The Manitoba Moose, in conjunction with the parent Vancouver Canucks, today announced they have named Scott Arniel as head coach.
Arniel, 43, becomes the fifth head coach in the 11-year history of the Moose. He replaces Alain Vigneault, who was promoted to head coach of the Canucks last month.
Last year, the Kingston, Ont., native spent a fourth season as an assistant coach with the Buffalo Sabres, who finished fourth in the NHL’s Eastern Conference in 2005-06 with a 52-24-6 record. The Sabres came within one game of advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals before dropping a decisive Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Final to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes.
The tremendous efforts of the Buffalo coaching staff were recognized at the conclusion of the season when Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff was given the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s Coach of the Year.
Arniel’s career is closely tied to the city of Winnipeg. The two-time Memorial Cup champion was selected by the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets in the second round of the 1981 draft, and played 406 games in two stints with the Jets (1981-86, 90-91). Arniel joined the Moose for their first season in Manitoba in 1996-97 and played three seasons with the club, captaining the team from 1997-99.
Arniel served as an assistant coach for the Moose for two years, including the team’s first season in the AHL in 2001-02.
Arniel played 25 AHL games in his career, recording seven goals and seven assists between New Haven and Maine in 1991-92.
